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Two Cobourg Medical People in Trouble

A couple of days ago, heart specialist Dr. William Hughes was accused of “incompetence and failing to maintain professional standards involving patients.” His case will be heard by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Ontario (CPSO) in Toronto between March 25 and May 15. Dr. Hughes is based in Peterborough but often comes to see patients in Cobourg. The other person is Leisa Barrett who was found guilty in a disciplinary hearing by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) on January 12, 2015. She is the owner/pharmacist at The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy at the Gateway Plaza at 1060 Burnham Street – opposite DePalma Drive.

Dr. Hughes is incompetent and/or failed to maintain the standard of practice of the profession in his care of patients, whose identities have been disclosed under separate cover, and engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct in his practice, including in his referrals of patients for diagnostic testing.

The specific complaint and the name of the complainant have not been made public but I’m hoping he is at most guilty of bad bedside manner and not of incompetence – he has advised many Cobourg people about their heart condition.

Doctors found guilty of such allegations may have their licences revoked or suspended, or face limitations on their ability to practise. They can also be fined up to $35,000 and be ordered to pay costs.

Leisa’s problem seems to be more one of misjudgement of people and this is supported by the minor penalty of 5 months suspension and an order to pay costs of $5000.

Pharmacist Leisa BarrettShe was accused and found guilty of the following:

she failed to maintain the professional boundaries of the pharmacist-patient relationship when she developed a non-professional, personal relationship with a patient, J.S.;

she failed to keep records as required by the Medication Procurement and Inventory Management Policy with respect to the inventory of narcotics and controlled drugs;

she allowed an individual, J.S., whom she knew to be addicted to narcotics and whom she suspected of stealing narcotics from the pharmacy, to have a key to the pharmacy and access to the dispensary area and/or drug vault.

Her penalty was

A reprimand;

… (she must) complete successfully with an unconditional pass, at her own expense and within 12 months of the date of the Order, the ProBE Program on Professional/Problem Based Ethics for Healthcare Professionals;

A suspension of 5 months with 2 months of the suspension remitted on condition that the Member complete the remedial training cited above. The suspension started January 13, 2015.

Costs to the College in the amount of $5,000.00.

In the meantime the Pharmacy is operating as usual with another Pharmacist standing in for Leisa.